SCANMOT: searching for similar sequences using a simultaneous scan of multiple sequence motifs

Establishment of similarities between proteins is very important for the study of the relationship between sequence, structure and function and for the analysis of evolutionary relationships. Motif-based search methods play a crucial role in establishing the connections between proteins that are particularly useful for distant relationships. This paper reports SCANMOT, a web-based server that searches for similarities between proteins by simultaneous matching of multiple motifs. SCANMOT searches for similar sequences in entire sequence databases using multiple conserved regions and utilizes inter-motif spacing as restraints. The SCANMOT server is available via

Intraurethral Catheter: Alternative Management for Urinary Retention in Patients With Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy

A polyurethane intraurethral catheter (IUC) was used in 27 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy who were unfit for surgery, or were awaiting surgery. All of them had previously had a periurethral catheter inserted. The IUC was inserted with a cystoscope under fluoroscopic control. Spontaneous voiding through the IUC resumed in 25 patients (93%) in the immediate postprocedure period. At the end of 6 months follow-up, the peak flow rates and the residual volumes estimated in 22 patients were satisfactory. Immediate complications included incontinence due to distal displacement in 2 patients and hematuria in one patient; long-term complications included mild encrustation of the IUC in 2 patients and calculus formation on the IUC in 1 patient. None of the patients had clinically significant urinary tract infection. The presence of the IUC did not compromise the subsequent transurethral resection of the prostate gland. We recommend the use of an IUC for up to 6 months in patients with urinary retention who are awaiting surgery or are unfit for surgery as an alternative to an indwelling urethral catheter

The rising global burden of osteoporosis: insights into prevalence, fracture rates, and future trends

Osteoporosis is a global health concern, marked by reduced bone density and increased fracture of risk, which unfavorably impacts quality of life and results substantial burdens on healthcare systems. This condition often progresses asymptomatically, with fractures, functional decline, and rise in mortality emerging in advanced stages. However, projections indicate that by 2050, over 50% of global osteoporotic fractures will occur in Asia, highlighting the urgency for targeted interventions. Early detection is very crucial for mitigating osteoporosis-associated morbidity. Screening programs enable timely identification of at-risk individuals, may facilitating interventions such as pharmacological therapy and lifestyle modifications that significantly lower the fracture incidence. Furthermore, community-based awareness campaigns may be playing a critical role in promoting bone health by encouraging sufficient intake of calcium and vitamin D supplement, in-addition regular to do physical activity. A life-course approach to bone health is essential. In postmenopausal women, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, lifestyle strategies are imperative for decline bone loss and preventing bone fractures. To achieve optimal bone mineral density (BMD) and postpone the onset of disease, premenopausal women must receive early preventive measure care and proper education. However, substantial rise in the prevalence of osteoporosis worldwide suggests to improve awareness among the public, expand access to healthcare, and create all-encompassing prevention and management plans. In order to lessen the significant societal and economic effects of this silent epidemic, multidisciplinary collaboration and continuing public health initiatives are essential

In silico analysis of lipopolysaccharide and β-1, 3-glucan binding protein (LGBP) gene from the haemocytes of Indian white shrimp Fenneropenaeus indicus

Lipopolysaccharide and β-1,3-glucan binding protein (LGBP) gene are involved in the pattern recognition mechanism of invertebrates, it induces the cell and humoral mediated immune responses like encapsulation, phagocytosis, nodule formation, clotting, synthesis of antimicrobial peptides and activation of the prophenoloxidase (proPO) system. The current study focuses to model the three-dimensional structure of novel immune related gene LGBP from the Indian white shrimp Fenneropeneaus indicus (F.indicus) by in silico homology modeling and its motif prediction. Fenneropeneaus indicus lipopolysaccharide and β-1,3-glucan binding protein (Fein-LGBP) consists of glycosylated regions which come under the glucanase family. Two conserved putative integrin-binding motif (cell adhesion sites), bacterial glucanase motif (GM) and two polysaccharide recognition motifs for the polysaccharide binding motif (PsBM) and β- glucan recognition motif (β-GRM) were conserved in the novel sequences of Fein-LGBP. Prediction of motifs, patterns, disulfide bridges and secondary structure were performed for functional characterization of the Fein-LGBP. Three dimensional structure of the Fein-LGBP was generated by Modeller9V8, Swiss Model and validated using NIH server. Results revealed that the modelled structure of Fein-LGBP was 75.7% of residues in allowed region. Theoretical model of Fein- LGBP facilitates to the discovery of new synthetic immune related peptides, agonists that could be useful to  understand the mechanism of LGBP involvement in the prophenoloxidase activating system of crustaceans. The tertiary structure prediction of the immune related gene Fein- LGBP will assist to explore more knowledge in immune system of crustaceans

Development and Automation of Fixed Wing UAV for Reconnaissance Mission with FPV Capability

Today's military missions require pre-emptive knowledge of hostile activities in and around the conflict zone. Using a multi rotor UAV for Reconnaissance has many disadvantages, such as cost, range, reduced maneuverability and much more. The main objective is to make the UAV completely autonomous, with the transmitter on standby. By entering the flight plan into the Ground Control System, the UAV will complete the assigned mission autonomously and will be guided by an operational flight plan wherein active waypoints are plotted in the GCS. The GCS can be linked to the Telemetry and the Global Positioning System to have a complete knowledge of the UAV location

Isolation and Characterization of Bacteria from the Gut of Bombyx mori that Degrade Cellulose, Xylan, Pectin and Starch and Their Impact on Digestion

Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) have been domesticated and widely used for silk production. It feeds on mulberry leaves. Mulberry leaves are mainly composed of pectin, xylan, cellulose and starch. Some of the digestive enzymes that degrade these carbohydrates might be produced by gut bacteria. Eleven isolates were obtained from the digestive tract of B. mori, including the Gram positive Bacillus circulans and Gram negative Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Serratia liquefaciens, Enterobacter sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. aeruginosa, Aeromonas sp., and Erwinia sp.. Three of these isolates, P. vulgaris, K. pneumoniae, C. freundii, were cellulolytic and xylanolytic, P. fluorescens and Erwinia sp., were pectinolytic and K. pneumoniae degraded starch. Aeromonas sp. was able to utilize the CMcellulose and xylan. S. liquefaciens was able to utilize three polysaccharides including CMcellulose, xylan and pectin. B. circulans was able to utilize all four polysaccharides with different efficacy. The gut of B. mori has an alkaline pH and all of the isolated bacterial strains were found to grow and degrade polysaccharides at alkaline pH. The number of cellulolytic bacteria increases with each instar

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Household, community, sub-national and country-level predictors of primary cooking fuel switching in nine countries from the PURE study

Introduction. Switchingfrom polluting (e.g. wood, crop waste, coal)to clean (e.g. gas, electricity) cooking fuels can reduce household air pollution exposures and climate-forcing emissions.While studies have evaluated specific interventions and assessed fuel-switching in repeated cross-sectional surveys, the role of different multilevel factors in household fuel switching, outside of interventions and across diverse community settings, is not well understood. Methods.We examined longitudinal survey data from 24 172 households in 177 rural communities across nine countries within the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology study.We assessed household-level primary cooking fuel switching during a median of 10 years offollow up (∼2005–2015).We used hierarchical logistic regression models to examine the relative importance of household, community, sub-national and national-level factors contributing to primary fuel switching. Results. One-half of study households(12 369)reported changing their primary cookingfuels between baseline andfollow up surveys. Of these, 61% (7582) switchedfrom polluting (wood, dung, agricultural waste, charcoal, coal, kerosene)to clean (gas, electricity)fuels, 26% (3109)switched between different polluting fuels, 10% (1164)switched from clean to polluting fuels and 3% (522)switched between different clean fuels